Effects of agriculture on wood breakdown and microbial biofilm respiration in southern Appalachian streams

Abstract

Agriculture causes high sediment, nutrient and light input to streams, which may affect rates of ecosystem processes, such as organic matter decay. In the southern Appalachians, socioeconomic trends over the past 50 years have caused widespread abandonment of farmland with subsequent reforestation. Physical and chemical properties of streams in these reforested areas may be returning to pre-agriculture levels thereby creating the potential for recovery of ecosystem processes.

Keywords

agriculture, biofilm, decomposition, disturbance, organic matter

Citation

McTammany, E.F Benfield; Webster, J.R. 2008. Effects of agriculture on wood breakdown and microbial biofilm respiration in southern Appalachian streams. Freshwater Biology (2008) 53, 842?854